Buckle construction with decorative panel



June 23, 1959 H. E.fsToL| MAN ABUCKLE CONSTRUCTION WITH DECQRAT-IVE PANEL Filed Julyl l, 1957 1N VENTOR. /ffy SWW Y M 470mm@ United States Patent O Harry E. Stallman, West Englewood, NJ., asslgnor to Essex Metal Products Company, West New York, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Application `July 1, 1957, Serial No. 668,977 s Claims. (Cl. 2 321) Thisinvention relates to buckles and more particularly is directed to an improved belt buckle having a decorative panel of material either blending or contrasting with the material of the belt. y

b `Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve buckles of the character described which shall comprise few and simple parts, which shall be easily assembled. to form an attractive buckle suitable for use with up-to-date clothing styles, particularly those for girls of teen and pre-teen ages, which shall feature a one-piece body formed by stamping or otherwise from sheet metal stock and provided with integrally formed connecting meansfor links carried by opposite ends of a belt and ilanges for securing a decorative material as a panel across the face of the buckle, which shall be rugged in construction and capable of withstanding rough usage, which ,shall` be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which shall be eiiicient and practical to a high degree in use. l e

r Other objects ofthe invention will in part be `obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown:

Fg. 1 is a front perspective view of a cinch type belt and buckle constructed to embody the invention showing the buckle in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the belt and buckle shown in Fig. l but with the buckle detached from one end of the belt.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear view of the buckle and adjoining portions of the belt of Fig. l showing the links attached to the buckle.

Fig. 4 is a perspective rear view of the buckle embodying the invention and showing the permanently connected link prior to being attached to the belt.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7--7 in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is an exploded sectional view taken similar to Fig. 5 but of the buckle as shown in Fig. 4 with the belt portions omitted illustrating the manner of assembling the decorative panel and buckle body portion.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a cinch belt and buckle constructed to embody the invention comprising a body encircling belt 11 and a decorative buckle 12.

Belt 11, herein illust-rated, consists of a web or strip of material M of the type well known in the art, woven of rubber and cotton or synthetic libre to provide elasticity in a longitudinal direction. Buckle 12, as seen in Figs. 3, 5 and 8, may be substantially the same width as ICC belt 11 and comprises a one-piece body 13, a decorative facing piece 14 and links 15 and 16 connected permanently and detachably, respectively, to the rear side `of body 13.

Body 13 may be made from any suitable sheet metal stock, such as, brass or steel, plated with brass `or other tarnish resistant and protective material, by die stamping to provide a base portion` 13a having opposite end anges 13b bent over toward each other on the frontside thereof clampinglyretaining opposite end `edges 14a of facing piece 14 thereagainst and having integral hooks 13e and 13d symmetrically cutout from a mid-section of base portion 13a to extend from the rear side thereof. As is clear from Fig. 4, hook 13e` is preferably centered between the top and bottom `of base portion 13a and sized to engage in small eyelet 15a `of link 15 and has its free end completely bent over, that is, closed for permanently connecting link` 15 to body 13.' Hook 13d, being similar in size and shape to hook 13C and aligned therewith, has its free end partially bent over, that is, open for detachably engaging small eyelet 16a of link 16 forming a clasp for buckle 12.

.Links 15 and 16 are preferably` `identical in size and shape and may also be stamped from` sheet metal stock.

toprovide a double eyelet connecting means'between belt 11 and body 13 having said small eyelets 15b and 16a adjacent large eyelet 15b and 1 6b, respectively, the latterbeing proportioned to receive oppositeend loops y11a of belt 11. Loops 11a are formed in the well vunderstood manner and secured by any suitable anchoring means, such as, staples, rivets or these-wed seams 11b shown in Fig. 3. l

Facing piece 14 is sized and shaped to. extend across and overlie base portion 13a as a decorative panel, having opposite end edges extending beneath said bent-over clamping anges 13b. In the embodiment of the invention here shown, facing piece 14 is `illustrated as` being made of the"same` material M used `to form belt 11,'

rendering one of many possible designs. In this regard, it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention other styles and designs for buckle 12 will be obtained by making facing piece 14 of other suitable materials, for example, leather, plastic, woven fabric or the like in a wide variety of colors and patterns and by providing additional ornamentations thereon, such as, jewels, embroidery or stamped figures and initials.

Likewise belt 11, in addition to being made of an elastic material M in a wide variety of colors and patterns, may be made of any suitable Well known belt material without elastic properties, in which case, a length adjustment device of any conventional construction (not shown) may be substituted for one of the sewed seams 11b.

The assembly of buckle 12 will now be apparent. After rst forming one-piece body 13 with opposite end anges 13a upstanding as shown in Fig. 8 and with hooks 13e and 13d cut out from base portion 13a, hook 13e` is put through small eyelet 15a of link 15 and bent over or closed to permanently secure link 15 to body 13. Thereafter, facing piece 14 previously cut to proper size is centered on base portion 13a between opposite upstanding flanges 13b. The latter are then bent down to clampingly secure opposite end edges 14a of facing piece 14 against base portion 13a. After the clamping is oompleted, body 13 may be bowed slightly across the width thereof as shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7 to pull facing piece 14 taut for providing a neat, flat lit against base portion 13a. When the opposite ends of belt 11 are attached to large eyelets 15b and 16h, cinch belt and buckle 10 is ready for wearing, open hook 13d and small eyelet 16a of link 16 forming a quick, foolproof clasp connection.

Flanges 13b in the finished buckle als-o serve to enhance the appearance of facing piece 14 and may be provided with additional ornamentation in the form of scalloped edges, simulated fluting and the like (not shown).

It is thus seen that there is provided an improved buckle construction having a decorative panel whereby the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made Aof the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be un derstood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent:

1. A belt buckle of the character described comprising a one-piece sheet metal body having a substantially flat base portion shaped to define the buckle configuration, a decorative panel shaped to conform to said buckle configuration overlying a front side of said `base portion, flanges extending from yopposite ends of said body portion and bent over towards each other on a front side thereof clampingly retaining opposite end edges of said decorative panel, against said body portion, a pair of integral hooks symmetrically cut out from a mid-section of said base portion to extend from a rear side thereof, and a pair of double eyelet links engaging said hooks.

2. A belt buckle of the character described comprising a one-piece sheet metal body formed into a substantially at base portion shaped to define the buckle configuration, end flanges extending from opposite sides of said basel portion bent over toward each other on a front side of the body, a pair of integral hooks symmetrically cut out from a mid-section of said base. portion to extendv from a rear side thereof, a decorative panel shaped .to conform to said configuration overlying a front side of said base portion and having opposite end edges clampingly secured beneath said anges, and a pair of double eyelet links each having one eyelet sized to engage one 4 of said hooks, one of the hooks being bent over for permanently securing one of the links to the body, the other of the hooks being open for detachable engagement by the other link.

3. A cinch belt and buckle combination of the character described comprising a Waist encircling band of longitudinally-elastic material terminating in opposite end loops, a pair of double eyelet links each having one eyelet attached to one of said belt loops, a buckle formed of a one-piece sheet metal body having a substantially at base portion sized to conform to the Width of said belt, a short length of said band material serving as a decorative panelroverlying a front side of said base portion, flanges extending from opposite ends of said body and bent over toward each other on a front side thereof clampingly retaining opposite end edges of said decorative panel against said base portion, a pair of integral hooks symmetrically cut out froma mid-section of said base portion to extend from a rear side thereof, the other eyelets of said double eyelet links being sized to engage said hooks, one of the hooks being completely bent over as a permanent attachment for one of the links, the other hoo'k being open to serve as a detachable connection between the buckle and the other link, said base portion being slightly bowed between vsaid iianges holding said decorative panel taut thereagainst.

Referencesj Citedin the file of this patent 

